10 Years On: Rohingya Still Dying at Sea While the World Watches

Arakan Now — 27 May 2025

Ten years ago, in May 2015, the world briefly looked at the Rohingya crisis when thousands were stranded in the Andaman Sea on wooden boats. That attention faded. But the deadly journeys continue today, often ignored.

From 2012 to 2015, around 170,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar and refugee camps in Bangladesh by sea. In May 2015, pushbacks by Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia left about 8,000 people stuck in open waters. Many died of thirst, sickness, or drowning. The world heard of traffickers, mass graves, and hundreds of deaths. Governments promised to stop this.

Today, those promises are broken. Rohingya still flee violence and oppression. Trafficking is more dangerous now. Journeys are more deadly.

Recent Deaths at Sea

Earlier this May, around 427 Rohingya died when two boats sank during the start of the monsoon. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said that nearly 1 in 5 people attempting sea escapes in 2025 have died or gone missing. Over 1,000 Rohingya died or disappeared at sea in the last year alone.

Most aim to reach Malaysia or Indonesia. They want safety, work, and some freedom. Instead, many face arrests, detention, or being pushed back.

Stories of Abuse and Danger

A 24-year-old man fled Myanmar’s Rakhine State in June 2024 after the military bombed and burned his village. He and his pregnant wife were held for a week on a crowded boat with 160 others. Later, she gave birth in a warehouse where smugglers kept them for three months. They couldn’t pay to continue. He said smugglers beat people with sticks and locked their legs in wooden clamps. All three, including their newborn, got scabies. They were released after paying about $5,000.

In early May 2025, Indian forces reportedly detained dozens of Rohingya in Delhi. The UN said around 40 were put on a navy ship and forced into the sea near a Myanmar island.

Child Victims of Trafficking

A 13-year-old boy fled forced recruitment in late 2024. After a boat journey and reaching the Thai border, he was locked in a warehouse for two months because he couldn’t pay. He said he was beaten every day, his hands tied, and threatened to be sold. Eventually, traffickers did sell him and others to another group. He escaped after 10 days and crossed into Thailand.

Another Rohingya man said he was stuck in a warehouse with 300 others. While he was there, about 400 more passed through—each waiting to pay or escape.

Ongoing Crisis in Myanmar

Violence in Rakhine State has worsened since November 2023. Fighting between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army includes killings, arson, forced recruitment, and displacement.

UNHCR says 33,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar and Bangladesh from 2022 to 2024. Around 70% of sea travelers are now women and children.

The sources are based on reporting and data from Human Rights Watch and UNHCR.